Tripura Left Front Convener Bijan Dhar and RSP, CPI leaders address press conference at Agartala on Wednesday. (Express: Debraj Deb)
Left Front in Tripura on Wednesday announced a week-long agitation from January 27 to protest the alleged “economic blockade” against Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) which is ruled by the left parties.
In his address at a press conference in the state capital this afternoon, Tripura Left Front convener Bijan Dhar said the state’s ruling BJP-IPFT government has reduced budget outlay for the ADC from 582.47 crores to Rs. 117.43 crore in the 2018-19 financial year.
“The government did not release funds which were sanctioned in the previous year’s budget. This is a clear indication that they intended to cripple developmental activities undertaken by the Tripura ADC. We have decided that we can’t stay silent and so we will launch a week-long agitation from January 27 till February 03”, Dhar told reporters.
Bijan Dhar, a former CPI (M) state secretary and an incumbent central committee leader of the party, said the Left Front regime introduced largescale development activities in the ADC areas including connectivity, infrastructure, education, public healthcare etc.
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Dhar claimed the BJP-led coalition government in Tripura is yet to release Rs. 95.38 crore to the tribal autonomous district council while the current financial year is drawing to a close.
“Left Front supporters will organize protest demonstrations, hold rallies, street corner meetings and sit-in-demonstrations in different parts for immediate release of the sanctioned funds”, he said.
The Left parties have also sought to introduce three-tier panchayat system in ADC areas, increase budget allocation for developmental activities in district council areas and inclusion of Kokborok, lingua franca of most tribes of Tripura in 8th Schedule of the Constitution among its other demands.
Tripura ADC is spread across 7,132.56 square km and covers nearly 68% of the state’s geographical area. However, tribals comprise only one third of the state’s population of 37 lakh people.
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